Blog Herding: Community Edition 03/29/12

Since its release, Mass Effect 3 continues to be a
volatile issue threatening civil war in the gaming industry, and many blogs continue
to focus on it. If you're fatigued with it all, perhaps these blogs will offer
a suitable and equally entertaining alternative.

Frag Fest Alert: I'm not entirely convinced this isn't
an April Fool's joke, but Sheriff Warbuff says he will be hosting a Frag Fest
event on April 01, 2012 (Sunday) at 1:00 Pacific Time. The game is Resident
Evil: Operation Raccoon City on the Xbox 360. If you're interested in playing
online with fellow Game Informer members, send him a request at warbuff6644.

Community Blogs:

The
Legend Of Zelda: Skyward SwordMray and JR provide a dual review (although duel might be
a more appropriate term) for The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword in this
collaborative blog that is a delight to read.

MoralityOne of the most in-depth blogs you'll find exploring the
moral decision making process within the digital realm. PaperCamm analyzes the challenging
gray area in-between the black and white decisions.

When
Innovation And Familiarity CollideA compelling blog by Stranger discussing his thoughts on innovation
and familiarity; and how these two opposing forces often influence the future
development of gaming.

When
Games Come To LifeWe all play games for different reasons and are impacted
by them in various ways. DeadManWalking describes the emotional connection that
occurs when the games we play seem to come alive.

Top
11 Games I Would Take On An IslandOne of the best authors of top ten lists, thegodofwine7 adds
a little something extra to his latest, this time highlighting not ten but
eleven games he'd want to bring along if stranded on a deserted island.

The
Online Pass Is TerribleApozem suggests online passes are "seen by the
industry as a necessity, and by some gamers as a majestic injustice," before providing his thoughts on
how it could be done better.

Shooters
That Are NOT StaleThe video game industry is saturated with shooters, often
resulting in the claim the genre is becoming flat. Not all think so, including Headless97,
who talks about how PC games keep the genre fresh.

Disc-Locked
Content: The New DLCWhile some are still battling over the Mass Effect 3
controversy, footthumb discusses the next powder keg waiting to erupt with Capcom's
game Street Fighter X Tekken and his theory on Disc Locked Content.

Reflections
Of A Lifelong Shooter FanShootist2600 takes a break from posting a photo-rich blog
concentrating on a particular game to focus his efforts on the current state of
the military shooter. And yes, there are plenty of pictures to look at.

Community Reviews:

Kid
Icarus Uprising ReviewOneArmedWonder provides a short
and simple review for the recently released Kid Icarus: Uprising on the
Nintendo 3DS. He awards the game an 8.5 out of 10 and claims it's a must have.

When
It Comes Down To The Darkness IIA solid review for the dark and
disturbing The Darkness II provided courtesy of that_sterlin_kid. The review is
a breeze to read while providing all the details you need to know if you're
interested in it.

Become
The (K)NightOne of Game Informer's newest
members, Jonathan Barnes posted a number of exceptional reviews throughout the
week, including this one for one of last year's greats, Batman: Arkham City.

Don't
Stop BelievingThe fairly recent surprise hit
from thatgamecompany that has captivated the industry is the stunning title
called Journey. Craigaleg's video review and Companion
Blog demonstrate
why this game is special.

The
Indie & Mojo Show Episode 27The dynamic duo tackles the
hottest topic burning through the industry right now: Mass Effect 3. Don't
fret, they don't limit the discussion to the controversial ending, but also
talk about Liara too.

Robot
In The Corner Podcast: Episode 2-24The latest episode touches on
some cool topics including The Walking
Dead, The Hunger Games, the
PlayStation Vita, and the ongoing controversy surrounding the Mass Effect 3
finale.

Don't forget to send your feedback, recommendations, and
community events in to my personal Game Informer account located here to
ensure this feature continues to provide the content you're eager to read.